COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

05.12.2013

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – “I don’t know what I’d do without my family. They’ve really been supportive of everything I do,” said the 10-K hand-cycling racer shortly after winning May 12.

And in turn, Marine Staff Sgt. Ronnie Jimenez, a wounded warrior and athlete at the 2013 Warrior Games at the Air Force Academy here, made his wife and mother proud and happy with his win. They said as much, cheering him on from the sidelines.

His time was 21:53, earning him the gold and motivating his Marine team.

Taking the silver was Anthony Robinson from the Army team at 22.16 and the bronze went to Justin Gaertner, a Marine from the Special Operations team.

“This is the best Mother’s Day gift ever,” said his wife Patrice, shortly after he crossed the finish to the cheers of supporters. She added that their three children are equally excited with his win.

Jimenez sustained a spinal cord injury from a training accident and has post-traumatic stress disorder following multiple deployments to Haiti, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 14-year Marine veteran is currently in a Wounded Warrior Regiment at Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., and is in the process of transitioning out of the Corps.

Jimenez has always loved sports and used to run ultra-distance. Following his spinal cord injury, he said doctors told him he’d never run again.

But he said a buddy, a paralympian, encouraged him, he said, with these words that inspired him to take on a new challenge: “You can do the same distance with your arms that you once did with your legs.

“And so I’m here,” he said, adding that the Marine Corps has been very supportive of his recovery efforts.

His command lets him train in the hills of nearby Joshua Tree National Park. He also receives professional coaching help throughout the year.

When he retires from the Corps, Jimenez said he wants to cycle professionally and perhaps make the Paralympic team.

He said he will maintain contact with his fellow athletes, who are just like family and that he will always remember the men and women he served with in the Corps.

Mary Ann, his mother who came to see him from Arizona, said her son makes her proud not only on Mother’s Day, but every day.

As she wiped away tears of joy, she added: “He’s just an awesome person. He’ll give the shirt off his back to you if you need something. I’m also proud of all the Marines. They’re all great.”

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Date Taken:

05.12.2013

Date Posted:

05.12.2013 23:38

Story ID:

106821

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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US

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This work, Marine makes mom, wife proud on Mother’s Day, by David Vergun, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.